Once named Europe’s most haunted city, York has long attracted Halloween crowds.
And one business in particular is now a mega-draw on All Hallow’s Eve.
The York Ghost Merchants attracted its longest ever queues at both its outlets today. And one dedicated customer was so determined to be first in, she sat out in Shambles in a camp chair wrapped in a duvet all night – from 10pm till the doors opened at 8.30am.
The Shambles shop opened in 2019, selling individually decorated ghost figures – and quickly became a social media sensation.
Now visitors come from across the globe to get their hands on a ghost.
On a busy normal day it takes three hours from the back of the queue to entering the shop.
But today’s epic Halloween queue was the longest yet – leading to a four and a half hour wait. The line, wrapping round from Shambles along Newgate, was so long many customers were asked to return later.
Alongside the Shambles site, owners Angus McArthur and David Bloodworth opened a Ghost Dispensary in St Anthony Gardens in 2023.
The hidden gem aims to allow shoppers to purchase the ghost figures quicker, without the Shambles’ queues.
But even here the line was three and a half hours long today.
We asked the queuers at both venues what brought them here.
‘It’s a community’
Julia Bickley is from Swindon and is involved in spooky communities across the web, including ‘The York Ghost Merchants Community’.
For her, a four and a half hour wait is well worthwhile, telling YorkMix: “We come up a couple of times a year just for the merchants and the shop. Some could see it as sad, but it’s a community.
“It’s probably my eighth visit now, and it’s not just about collecting the ghosts.”
Julia explained how she’s made lifelong friends through her love of the supernatural: “There’s different groups of collectors, we all chat online, and we all arrange to meet up when we get to York. It’s like a massive group of friends.”
Julia uses a walking stick, aptly decorated with ghosts, but the hours queueing doesn’t phase her.
“We help each other with queues, especially people who’ve got disabilities. We take turns to give each other a break, toilet breaks, coffee breaks, especially if you’re doing it from silly o’clock in the morning.
“Because there’s this community feel, you’ll get chatting and you’ll meet up with other like minded people.
“My legs at the end of the day feel like they’ve been through the mill, but it’s a nice little community. I came up this week and I’m handing out goody bags to everyone in the queue,” she said.
Alex Pelthorpe is no stranger to the York Ghost Merchant queues, even though he lives in Windsor.
He travelled from Nottingham to York this morning, arriving at 6.45am to join the Shambles queue.
“It started off as something that we thought looked cool, something that might look cool in our house,” he said.
“And then it got to a sort of obsession, almost because there were so many and they were so different, and they were so cute and different and collectable!”
Together with his ghost-obsessed partner, the pair are the proud owners of around 70 ghost figures.
What design was he looking for today? “I don’t know until I get in there. Usually I look for some sort of Halloween colours, like oranges, blacks, whites.”
As an expert in ghost collecting, Alex revealed some tips for those who are apprehensive of the queues.
“I’d say, plan ahead and make sure you’ve got you know someone with you, because it can be quite boring queuing on your own. Do your research, and don’t just go for the first one you see. Have a look around and see what you find, and have fun!”
The busiest day of the year
Co-owner Angus was also on hand this morning to manage the queues.
“It’s been really busy all week, we’re so grateful that people come to York and want to queue up for the so long to buy one of our ghosts.
“Being Halloween, today is the busiest day of the year, everyone wants to be in York to buy a ghost on Halloween.
“But as I say, we’re so grateful that we have a business, a small business, in York that has been so popular.”
Robert Crossley has worked at The Ghost Merchants for a year and a half. Although he tends to stay behind the scenes, he enjoys his time during the spooky season to interact with the customers.
He said: “I love it, because I don’t really often get to see people, so it’s nice to see the same faces coming back.
“I’ve only been here for two ghost weeks, but I recognise people from last year, and they all meet up and have their own little catch ups with each other, which is really nice to see.”
Especially for Halloween, The York Ghost Merchants are hosting their fifth annual ‘Ghost Week’.
The dedicated nine days explores and celebrates the city’s links to ghosts, and invites participants to engage in activities including ‘The Little York Ghost Hunt’.
If you like the sound of Ghost Week, or dare brave the queues for a unique ghost of your own, you can find more information on the York Ghost Merchants website here.